June 3rd, 2011

Aguadilla, PR.- Platelets are indispensable for the blood coagulation. They are needed as routine procedure to support  the therapy against cancer, the open heart surgery, blood disorders, and organs transplants. Platelets are meant to be transplanted within five days upon donation; reason why there’s always need for supply. Volunteers can donate platelets up to 24 times each year. (Servicios Mutuos Blood Bank, 2011)

This is why Ramey Job Corps’  BCL coordinated to bring a Platelet/Blood drive to the Center. Twice a year Mirta Acevedo, the Center’s Health Care Manager, manages to bring the American Red Cross to collect blood donations. But for years, this platelet drive has not been on the Center although there’s a  great increase of cancer patients in the island. “Lots of people feel somehow intimidated or afraid of donating platelets because they are not well informed about the process” said Roberto García, the committed Coordinator from Servicios Mutuos who also expressed that all the donations always collected  by the entity, stay in Puerto Rico.

Volunteers had to take previous to the donation, an hemoglobin test, to respond to a confidential questionnaire, and this time, different to the blood donations, had to take another lab test since as mentioned by Mr. García, the procedure is so expensive that doing a quick lab test, increases the chance of collecting good samples. 

Center students responded positively to the opportunity of giving life through this donation. Even, felt more committed to donate this time and in the future when they were told that the person that was going to receive the placelets was a female child who suffers of  leukaemia. Immediately, the students questioned the nurses if the possibility of meeting the child existed, to visiting her and provide her any other assistance  that they could support her with. Nurses answered positively, and  the Student Government Association will call and try to coordinate support and visit if the family allows it.

Not only approximately 50 donations were collected in two days, but around 10 students were able to donate blood too.

Ramey Job Corps is committed to provide community service. This drive as well as the regular blood drives are always opened to the public.  Our youth provide every year in our program more than 35 community services throughout the island, been for years awarded by ResCare for the great values to care for those in need through service.